University of Pittsburgh

Section

Points

Criteria

Title

2

• Title describes lab concisely, adequately and appropriately

3

• List names of all collaborators in this work

Introduction

5

• What was to be found
• Why is this measurement important or informative?
• Did you know ahead of time what value you should get?

Materials and Methods

10

• Clear description of experimental design
• Clear physics diagram of apparatus and measurements
• What materials were used
• What was measured
• Gives enough detail to allow the experiment to be replicated

Data

15

• Actual data, presented clearly, for example in tablular form
• Sufficient data carefully recorded
• Repeated measurements if appropriate
• Appropriate significant figures
• What can you say about accuracy of your measurements
• Graphs, if appropriate

Analysis

30

• Clearly explain how the analysis was done
  • What physics principles were used? Were principles applied correctly?
  • Assumptions or approximations made, if any? What effect did approximations have on your result (too big? too small?)
• Show calculations (if many similar calculations, show one in detail)
• Accuracy of results?
  • Sources of error inherent in the experimental design

Conclusion

10

• Calculated value or result
• Compare to expectations

Reflection

5

• Did the experiment raise new questions in your mind?
• How could the accuracy of the measurements be improved?

Style

5

• Terse: be as brief and as clear as possible
• Complete sentences, correct grammar and spelling
• All numbers labelled with units
• Correct use of significant figures